Dr Clare Bailey: Varicose veins - a real pain in the leg - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Life Dr Clare Bailey Varicose veins – a real pain in the leg By You Magazine - July 28, 2019 When the weather’s hot, it’s good to ditch tights in favour of bare legs. But some people would rather stay covered up. It’s estimated that up to 25 per cent of women and 15 per cent of men have varicose veins on their legs and sometimes feet – swollen blue or purple veins that often look lumpy and twisted. They can become painful, causing leg swelling, skin damage and even ulcers. And they also leave people at higher risk of thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the veins) or potentially dangerous deep vein thrombosis. Yet the NHS is cutting back on treatment – typically involving surgery – as it is regarded as ‘nonessential’ or ‘cosmetic’, while effective new treatments are being ignored. Maite Franchi/Folio Art Varicose veins are overstretched blood vessels. Weakness in the vein walls and stretching of the valves means that instead of the blood making its way back up to the heart, some of it pools in the veins. The failing valves further increase the pressure in the stretched veins. The possibility of developing the condition is increased if you have to stand for long periods, are overweight or pregnant; there is also a genetic link. Some people have few, if any symptoms, but many suffer aching, throbbing, swelling and heaviness in the legs, and sometimes itchiness around the affected area. Mild symptoms can be eased by resting, raising your legs or wearing support stockings. However, over time the poor blood flow can result in thinning and inflammation in the surrounding skin, as well as increased fluid in the legs. So should we be dealing with varicose veins earlier to prevent these complications? According to consultant interventional radiologist Dr Jocelyn Brookes from University College London, ‘Although the usual initial treatment with compression stockings can help with symptoms, they don’t actually prevent progression of the varicose veins.’ He also points out that the typical surgical approach, where the veins are ‘stripped’ by cutting and removing the section of dilated vein, ‘leaves extensive bruising, requires a six-week recovery period and carries the risk of DVT and infection. Plus there is still a significant recurrence rate of 50 per cent within five years.’ Dr Brookes was one of the first British doctors to start using a less invasive treatment called endovenous laser ablation. Along with a similar procedure known as radiofrequency ablation, this heat treatment causes a controlled burn inside the dilated vein which closes and seals it. Endovenous laser ablation has become increasingly popular, with high patient satisfaction rates. ‘This minimally invasive approach has fewer side effects and a rapid recovery,’ says Dr Brookes, ‘as well as an impressive success rate of 98 per cent, maintained after two years. What’s more, its recurrence rate is as low as one to three per cent a year, far less than with surgery, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE] guidelines point to the long-term benefits.’ Unfortunately, this approach is not more widely available on the NHS; your doctor usually needs to make an ‘individual funding request’ in order to get any varicose vein treatment. For more details of Dr Brookes’s endovenous laser ablation procedure, which is available privately, go to royalfreehadleywood.com/21st-century-varicose-vein-treatment Heart health at your fingertips The KardiaMobile is a brilliant little device for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF), a potentially dangerous abnormal heart rhythm which leads to an increased risk of stroke. As it happens intermittently and often doesn’t occur when you see your doctor or have an ECG (electrocardiogram) heart measurement, it can be hard to detect. The KardiaMobile – available from amazon.co.uk – costs around £99, is clinically validated and simple to use. Just place two fingers from each hand on the metal pads for 30 seconds and, when connected to the Kardia app on your smartphone or tablet, it acts as a mobile ECG. Most people diagnosed with AF will benefit from medication for thinning the blood. If you have a question you would like answered, email [email protected]. RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Everything we know about The Crown season 5 Aldi s exercise equipment is on sale with up to 50% off The best Halloween events for 2022 across the UK Popular in Life The You magazine team reveal their New Year s resolutions December 31, 2021 Susannah Taylor The TLC tools your body will love January 23, 2022 How to stop living in fear February 6, 2022 Susannah Taylor My pick of the fittest leggings February 27, 2022 Women’ s Prize for Fiction 2022 winner announced June 17, 2022 These BBC dramas are returning for a second series June 30, 2022 Susannah Taylor gives the lowdown on nature s little helper – CBD April 17, 2022 The baby names that are banned across the world April 27, 2022 The Queen has released her own emojis May 26, 2022 Sally Brompton horoscopes 27th June-3rd July 2022 June 26, 2022 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved